How critical is this part

I was under my truck checking for anything that looked out of place.
I found this bracket or stiffener just dangling by one bolt off the right hand side of the bellhousing or transfer case just in front of the oxygen sensor. Two out of the three mounting bolts (10 mm ) we're attached to the case and one Bolt to a mounting bracket that also held the exhaust pipes that combined into one that led to the catalytic converter.
Does anyone know what the name of this part is and why it is there and the size bolt that is missing? The 10 mm bolt shown in the pic would not thread in to the upper mounting hole. Is it possibly a 10mm Bolt with a smaller pitch?

 

Is that the dynamic dampener mount?

Looks like you lost the rubber part that acts as the counterweight.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-is-hanging-off-my-transfer-case.332600/

 

Hmm, that bracket, at least to me eye looks quite a bit different than what they are showing as a dynamic dampener (which my truck never had). Can you take a photo with that bracket in the position you found it?

 

My truck is a 98 Toyota Tacoma 5 speed extended cab, manual transmission with a 3.4 motor.
The part I show pictured I assume is used to reduce torque on the motor mounts when there is torque on the drivetrain.
I think I've been driving it for a while without it being attached solidly. The part is off the truck and I don't notice anything abnormal with the operation of the transmission or any obvious vibration. I have not been able to find a schematic showing this part. I just need to know if I can eliminate this part and not get unnecessary wear on other drivetrain parts.
I am open to any opinions and input that can be offered up here. Thank you

 

It appears to me that anybody who has had to remove the bell housing,transfer case and transmission from the truck would have to remove this part.

 

I think it would help to take a photo with that part in the location you found it. Easier for those who might not immediately be able to identify it, since we could take a quick look at our own trucks.

Can it be seen in any of the photos from this write up? https://adventuretaco.com/guide/clu...t-gen-tacoma-5vzfe-also-4runner-t-100-tundra/

 

I'm sorry I could not find any photos in that post that resembled anything that I have shown here.
It's hard to get a good picture laying on my back because I'm not low enough to show a good picture of the location.
Here is a pic of the part taken off.

 

It's a little hard for me to place that, but I took a photo of the location on my truck where I think that is. Is that hole to the right in your photo on the exhaust? Maybe those earlier years had a different exhaust routing and used an extra exhaust support (that bracket) that the later models did not.



Nothing is, or ever was there on mine. 2002 Xtra cab, 3.4l, manual trans.

 

I can't thank you guys enough for sharing your time to help me resolve this issue!
Gen1andDone, thank you for the pic I think we're getting real close now to the actual location.
I hung the bracket back up in place with one Bolt. Here's a new pic that I took:
You can only see this location from the right side of the bell housing. It is directly under the rack and pinion and bolts to the underside of the bell housing with two 10mm bolts.
This bracket is so heavy duty that it seems like there ought to be a reason for it being there.
I'm not sure but I think the bracket just reduces any rotational spin when torque is applied to the drivetrain and reduces wear on the motor mounts.
Thanks again for being so helpful!

 

My ultimate objective is to bring this back to original and bolted solidly in place.
The only thing I lack is the true bolt size needed to bolt It Up near the exhaust.
The 10 mm bolts used in the bellhousing do not screw into the upper exhaust mounting.
It starts maybe a half a turn and then stops so I assume it must be a different bolt pitch.
Maybe a 10 mm X 1.0 or 1.25 pitch

 

That is the same location as where I took my photo, and now it's clear that it's there to support the exhaust in some way. It also shows how the earlier trucks were setup differently, my 02 has no such exhaust support in that location.

Bracing to the exhaust does nothing to reduce torque in the motor or trans mounts. The transmission is bolted to the engine, the exhaust is bolted to the engine. As far as I can tell, it would only be there to support the exhaust at that location.Not sure why they felt it necessary for that year, and later eliminated it.

 

Thank you Gen1andDone for such an astute post. I really appreciate a forum like this on Toyota Tacomas.
The best option I have to resolve my issue is to get a good pitch gauge and head to the local salvage yard and get a small selection of assorted metric bolts with different pitches and see if they'll fit.

 

Buy
The proper genuine bolts from the yota dealer they maybe a few $$$ each but they fit perfect

 

Do you think that the dealership has accurate enough schematics on this make and model to be able to determine what part this is and the bolt sizes needed to mount it?

 

They should! Iwent to my local dealer to have them look up the part # because the schematic I had was confusing me a bit and the part # that it came up with

I only have one cat so your diagram could be different with your VIN

 

https://youtu.be/5PJPZ5-AK-I?si=ye5x3UXtpvGLNZ5G

I don't recall if Timmy mentions what that part is for exactly somewhere in that video
Somebody cut it in half f to get to the starter bolt

It's near the 31:15 timestamp

 

Can't be bothered to read this but 90% sure that holds stock exhaust. I have it in my spare parts

 

Many different motors, transmissions... drivetrains in general have many different attaching brackets bolted on various places... from the factory used to lift/install. They can be even on various frame locations to hold the vehicle down in transport. I keep a half dozen with my cherry picker. Don't over think it.